Jokertown Shuffle

3.

Brutus jumped down from Bre

Bre

"Not much is known about her," Father Squid explained, "other than the fact that she possesses mental abilities of the highest order. Some say she's a hideous joker, others that she's a beautiful ace. No one can say for sure because everyone who looks at her sees something different." Bre

Father Squid shrugged massive shoulders. "It is apparently her will to vary her image with each beholder. No one can say why that is. Some claim that she's mad."

"Not very flattering," said a voice behind Bre

Bre

Facing him, standing straight and unhurt, was Je

"Guns won't help, either," the Je

And she was.

"Thank you for coming," Father Squid said.

Trace dropped into the uncomfortable hospital chair placed next to Je

"How'd you get through the clinic's security?" Bre

She shrugged. "It wasn't hard."

"Can you help us?" Father Squid asked.

She looked at the priest, then Bre

"Anything," Bre

She looked at him with Je

"Anything that I can give," he said. "If you're as powerful as you claim to be, you should realize the extent-and sincerity-of my offer."

She shrugged. "Just wanted to hear you say it in words. Words make things seem more real to you people."

"But not to you?" Bre

"Words have their place. But I can see beneath their surface, down to their real meanings." She frowned momentarily. "Your words are real enough. You mean what you say."

Abruptly, Trace sat forward, turning her attention from Bre

"Can you help?" the priest said. "I suppose."

"Will you?"

"Oh, I guess."

Bre

"In exchange for what?" Father Squid asked.

"Oh-" she waved it away-"we'll talk about that later." She turned her gaze on Bre

"All right." Bre

"I got that idea," Bre

"I hope it will be that easy," Father Squid said as Bre

"Easy or not," Bre

"You suspect him?"

"Always."

Father Squid nodded ponderously. "I don't know much of anything beyond that which was in the papers. It was a heart attack, apparently, sudden and unexpected. Wait a minute," he said, his long, slender fingers waving in sudden excitement. "There was something else. I remember talking with Cosmo Cosgrove-you know, from the mortuary"

Bre

"Now," Father Squid continued, "the Cosgrove Mortuary did not handle the affair, but, well, apparently morticians talk among themselves, and Cosmo told me that Kien's mortician mentioned that there was something irregular about the body."

"'Irregular'?" Bre

Father Squid shrugged. "He knew no details. Just that there was something odd about the corpse."

"I'll bet," Bre

The priest nodded. "As far as I can tell. The Fists have kept a very low profile in recent months. As profitable-and cold-blooded-as ever, of course, but the Shadow Fist Society has been avoiding rather than seeking headlines recently."

Bre

He'd try to operate as circumspectly as possible. He'd consider it a good business practice. He looked into the priest's eyes. "Thanks, Bob," he said.

"For what?"

"For being here when I needed help."

"What else is a priest for? I still have high hopes for your soul, Daniel."

"At least someone does. Keep an eye on Je

Brutus, huddled under Bre

"Don't worry," Bre

"Shit," Brutus said, and huddled down even more.

Kien looked up from his desk when Rick and Mick entered the office. The joker brothers were Siamese twins, of a sort. They had one pair of legs and one trunk, though their body bifurcated halfway through the rib cage, giving them two chests and two sets of arms and shoulders. Though they were impressive physical specimens, Kien sometimes thought that they didn't have half a brain between them.

"Guy here to see you," Rick said.

Mick looked at his brother with a hurt expression. "I was going to tell Fadeout that. I spoke to the guy, after all."

"You spoke to him, but it was my idea to see the boss first before letting him in."